ABD: Priority order for 2020 bookings?

Eastridge

Mouseketeer
Joined
Sep 24, 2018
ABD is likely to open 2020 dates and bookings within a month or two, correct?

If ABD reads this board, would you please give ABD Insiders a day or two of booking priority over others such as DVC and DCL Castaway Club members?

Last year, ABD included DVC and DCL members in the priority group. Based on posts here, that turned out to be a disaster and angered many ABD veterans.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/not-in-a-happy-mood-today-about-abd-when-i-should-be.3681055/

https://www.disboards.com/threads/how-long-did-you-wait-on-hold.3681202/

Shouldn't the ABD Insiders, the people who have already gone on your trips, be rewarded with the best chance to get opening day pricing? Especially since DVC members receive opening day pricing regardless of the booking date.

For the river cruises earlier this year they included DVC and DCL in the same group as the Insiders.

If ABD doesn't listen, what is the best course of action? Is it better to use Dreams Unlimited rather than staying on hold on the phone for an entire day? Does Dreams Unlimited have preferred access to opening day pricing?
 
I called ABD and a Vacationista said the people who can book early on May 14, 2019 are ABD Insiders, Gold and Platinum Castaway Club members, and DVC members. In other words, the same or almost the same as last year. So I guess Disney doesn't care about giving Insiders priority over the others.

The Vacationsita also said almost all the recent inquires have been about the new Egypt trip, so they are anticipating that to book quickly. So I guess if you have that trip in your sights, call early or get a good travel agent.
 


I called ABD and a Vacationista said the people who can book early on May 14, 2019 are ABD Insiders, Gold and Platinum Castaway Club members, and DVC members. In other words, the same or almost the same as last year. So I guess Disney doesn't care about giving Insiders priority over the others.

The Vacationsita also said almost all the recent inquires have been about the new Egypt trip, so they are anticipating that to book quickly. So I guess if you have that trip in your sights, call early or get a good travel agent.
:( Color me not surprised.

Sayhello
 


Only thing I can think of is the number of bookings by Insiders was too low for their bottom line. They're trying to draw more people in to early bookings without further discounts.
 
I wish insiders included people who have booked, paid, but not yet traveled on their first ABD. If so, I'd do the Alaska trip for 2020. As it is, since we aren't traveling until June and the price will have gone up dramatically at that time (I'm sure, anyway), I will do 2020 Alaska DIY. ABD's loss
 
I wish insiders included people who have booked, paid, but not yet traveled on their first ABD. If so, I'd do the Alaska trip for 2020. As it is, since we aren't traveling until June and the price will have gone up dramatically at that time (I'm sure, anyway), I will do 2020 Alaska DIY. ABD's loss
You can book 2 days after Insiders. Chances are good, since this is an old, established itinerary, that there will still be early booking discounts available on May 16th. Discounts for trips like the new Egypt trip will probably not be available after May 14, but I wouldn't give up on Alaska.

Sayhello
 
You can book 2 days after Insiders. Chances are good, since this is an old, established itinerary, that there will still be early booking discounts available on May 16th. Discounts for trips like the new Egypt trip will probably not be available after May 14, but I wouldn't give up on Alaska.

Sayhello


Very true Sayhello. Three thoughts:

1. Since Alaska is totally do-able on our own, it is hard to justify the early booking discount price, let alone any increase in that amount.

2. As a family of 4, the loss of the early booking discount is actually real money.

3. The price increase thing bugs me. Knowing that we all paid a different price for the same service/trip. (Although, it doesn't irk me as much when I get the good deal.)

I guess I don't love the itinerary enough to justify paying extra for it.
 
I am getting stressed about getting the early booking offer! We are booking December 2020 (Egypt). Did a lot of you NOT get the early booking rate for Japan last year (or was it offered)? We had no trouble getting it for Backstage Magic but getting worried about Egypt. It's a big price jump if we don't get it (still going though!).
 
Kevin from dreams discussed it in the podcast on Tuesday. He said the December trip was very popular and usually each date had only 4 spots for early booking offer historically. He suggested if you can have different dates you can travel to increase your changes of getting the offer. Good luck!
 
Do you mean 4 people or 4 reservations? I assume it must be 4 reservations because we always travel with 5 people and had no problem all getting it.

Yes, I bet the December trip will be one of the first to go. Try to get on the phone right at 8 am.

They did offer the early booking discounts for Japan but they went very quickly.
 
I am getting stressed about getting the early booking offer! We are booking December 2020 (Egypt). Did a lot of you NOT get the early booking rate for Japan last year (or was it offered)? We had no trouble getting it for Backstage Magic but getting worried about Egypt. It's a big price jump if we don't get it (still going though!).

I don't believe that Japan had an EBD last year. The dates did fill up in around 48 hours though. When they added a few more dates the price had increased around $1,000.00 per person.
 
I am getting stressed about getting the early booking offer! We are booking December 2020 (Egypt). Did a lot of you NOT get the early booking rate for Japan last year (or was it offered)? We had no trouble getting it for Backstage Magic but getting worried about Egypt. It's a big price jump if we don't get it (still going though!).
They did not offer any Early Booking discounts for Japan. I think they knew the trips would sell out pretty quickly, and they didn't have to incentivize anyone to book early for Japan. But as *WDW*Groupie said, they ended up having to add more dates (at a higher rate), so it was even more popular than they thought it would be.

Do you mean 4 people or 4 reservations? I assume it must be 4 reservations because we always travel with 5 people and had no problem all getting it.

Yes, I bet the December trip will be one of the first to go. Try to get on the phone right at 8 am.

They did offer the early booking discounts for Japan but they went very quickly.
It's 4 reservations per departure. They go pretty quickly.

There were no Early Booking discounts for Japan at all.

Sayhello
 
Kevin from dreams discussed it in the podcast on Tuesday. He said the December trip was very popular and usually each date had only 4 spots for early booking offer historically. He suggested if you can have different dates you can travel to increase your changes of getting the offer. Good luck!

Now this makes me nervous and a bit annoyed. If I have a TA booking this on opening day, I think that the early booking discount should apply to anyone who is able to successfully schedule. I guess I am naive about this because we are DVC members and always get opening day price plus the additional discount offered by DU. We have yet to reserve an ABD on opening day. For Egypt DU is offering the additional discount for two dates; neither is our trip date.
 

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